FOSSICKING

History of Gilberton Goldfield will leave you intrigued on why people would walk pushing a wheelbarrow for 6 weeks just to reach a new town to find the yellow cake (gold)so how did it start. Richard Daintree was commissioned by government to go out and find new goldfield and grazing/pastoral country. In 1868 Richard Daintree camped at Gilberton on a spring now called Little 8 mile for 3 months while exploring the area. During this time he discovered gold and named many creeks /gully and also named Mt nation which is in full view of the Gilberton Homestead.

Premature andnot wholly accurate reports created a gold rush to the Gilbert Goldfieldbecomingaovernight city called Gilberton reports tell us by 1869 there was over 3,000 people living on the goldfields. Recorded gold of the fields was 113.59 kg of gold bullion but there would have been lot more due to people feeling to other new goldfield and Chinese selling there’s privately. The goldfield became abundant and had another life in 1875 crushing ore to approx 106.90 kg of gold bullion. It was mined on and off up until the early 1940’s. In 1914 government called upon Mr Ball to do a comprehensive report on the mineral deposits of the area to see if it warrants a railways line being built from Almaden-Forsyath onto Gilberton.

Gilberton Gold

Rob French Panning for gold

Old mining remain at Gilberton ( Lord Roberts Mine )

Police Commissioner GJ Mc Donald at Gilberton headquarters in 1872

Richard Daintree

ABOUT US

Gilberton Outback Retreat is located in far North Queensland. The retreat is set on the banks of the Gilbert River on the 8th generation occupied Gilberton Station.